Traction increasing wheel attachment



June 15, 1948. w, MAXWELL 2,443,261

TRACTION INCREASING WHEEL' ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 13, 1946 Z Sheets-Sheet 1 Walter Maxwell June 15, 1948. w. MAXWELL TRACTION INCREASING WHEEL ATTACHMEN'L 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fil ed Aug. 15, 1946 Wa li'er Maxwell awe/whoa;

Patented June 15,1948

TRACTION INCREASING WHEEL ATTACHIWENT.

Walter Maxwell, Marshfiield, Wis.

Application August 13, 1946, Serial No. 690,207

2 Claims. (Cl. 30147) This invention relates to a traction attachment for motor vehicle wheels, the primary object of the invention being to provide a device of this character which may be readily and easily secured to motor vehicle wheels to increase the traction of the wheels, when the wheels are operating on slippery or muddy surfaces.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be carried by the'motor vehicle wheels at all times, means being provided for throwing the traction spikes or blades into and out of operation at will.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a motor vehicle wheel, equipped with a traction increasing device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view, illustrating one of the grooved rollers that provide a support for the inner spike supporting ring of the attachment.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a gear-locking arm by means of which the gear that operates the spike supporting ring is held against movement after adjustment.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed view illustrating the handle which is used in rotating the spike supporting ring.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed view of the elongated gear over which the crank handle shown by Figure 5 is positioned to operate the spike supporting ring.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the attachment comprises a main section embodying the inner supporting ring 5 and the outer ring 5, the rings 5 and 6 being held in spaced relation with respect to each other, by means of the bolts 1 on which the spacers 8 are positioned, the spacers 8 having their ends contacting with the inner surfaces of the rings 5 and 6 as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawings.

The inner supporting ring 5 is formed with a laterally extended angular flange 9 that is ing through openings formed in the annular,

flange 9.

Mounted between the rings 5 and 6 is a ring l2 which is of much smaller diameter than the rings 5 and 6, so that the outer edge of the ring I2 will lie in a line with the inner edges of the rings 5 and 6. Secured to the ring 12, are grooved rollers 13 which are mounted on the eccentric bearings I4 that in turn are mounted on the bolts |5,'the grooves IB of the rollers l3 being constructed to receive the inner edge of the outer ring 6, providing bearings forthe ring l2 to rotatably support the ring I2 with respect to the rings 5 and 6. The bearings I l are mounted on the adjustable plates I! that are formed with elongated arcuate shaped openings 18 in which the bolts l9 operate, the bolts [9 being secured to the ring [2. Due to this construction, it will be seen that by moving the adjustable plates H, the grooved rollers may be adjusted toward and away from the ring 6 to insure the proper operation of the device.

The reference character 20 indicates cleats or spikes which are pivotally mounted on the spacers -8, between .the inner and outer rings 5 and 6, the cleats or spikes being formed with inwardly extended ears 2 l which are formed with openings to receive the connecting rods 22 that have one of their right-angled ends extending through the ears 2| associated therewith, while the opposite ends thereof extend through openings in the ring l2.

It will be seen that when the ring I2 is rotated in one direction, the cleats or spikes 20 will be extended beyond the rings 5 and 6, and when the ring [2' is moved in the opposite direction, these spikes will be retracted to positions below the usual tire tread surface.

Secured to the outer ring 6 is an arcuate shaped rack bar 23 which is held in position by means of the bolts 24 that operate in the elongated openings 25 so that the rack bar 23 may be adjusted to extend the teeth thereof below or beyond the inner edge of the ring 6. Mounted on the ring I2 is a shaft 26 on which the large gear 21 is mounted, While at the outer end of the shaft 28 is mounted the smaller gear 28, the gear 28 being designed to cooperate with the teeth of the rack bar 23 to rotate the ring l2 as the shaft 26 and gears mounted thereon are rotated. Associated Secured to the ring I2 is a movable locking bar,

34 which has a right-angled end 35 adapted to fit over the inner edge of the ring 12,; the bar 34 being formed with teeth 35' to engagewthe,

teeth of the gear 29 and prevent rotary movement thereof. The bar 34 is mountedfor movement longitudinally of the bolt 36 thatis secllmdg o the ring I2 there being provided a coiled spring 31 positioned on the bo1t, nrma11y urging theban 34 outwardly, or to its locking or securing position. When it desired to rotate the gear 29, the bar 35 is forced-i-niivardl'yagainsttheacti-ori of the spring-31; where itnisengageslthe gear 29, allowi-ng'the g'e'ar ZB te-be rotated by the remov able crankhandle 3B: 7

lit might be --furthei stated that the cle'atsior spikes 20 are substantially triangular in shape, to the end that they are supported adjacentv to one of-"the corners-thereof, the opposite corner being "formed with an-opening to receive the connecting rods to the end that when-the connecting rods are rotated, the cleats or. spikes will be rotated togex te'nd them orretract them,-according.to the directiono'f rotationof-the gearing.

From the foregoing it will'beseenthat due-to the constructionshowmand-describedl have pro.- vided an attachment which may bereadily positioned on a motor vehicle wheel toproviu iadded traction-for the wheel-byextending the spikesor cleats beyond the Jperiphery of the wheel, :to -;dig into the ground Surface :as the wheels; retate.1;.

Having thusdescribed the iinventicngwhat is claimed is:

1. A: traction: attachment -:for motor. vehicles comprising spa-cedcouter =and inne-rzring sections, meanssfor securing the ring, sections ,tova motor vehicle wheel, traction spikes pivotally mounted between the ring sections, an inner movable ring member, grooved rollers adjust-ably mounted on the movable ring member and adapted to accommodate the inner edge of the outer ring section supporting the movable ring member, rods connecting the traction spikes and inner movable ring member, and means for rotating the inner movable ring. member whereby therods are operated extending or retracting" the' spike's';

2. A traction attachment for motor vehicles comprising spaced outer and inner ring sections, meansvforsecuring the ring sections to a motor vehicle wheel, traction spikes embodying substantially triangular shaped members pivotally mounted between the ring sections adjacent to one-cornerjof the spikes, an inner movable ring member, grooved rollers mounted on the movable ring member and adapted to receive the inner edge of the outer ring section, supporting the movable ring member,- rods connecting-the it'r'actionspikes at points adjacent-119th of; the rods being also connected vil i-ththe inne r movable/ring, and means :for rotaiting the inner movable ring member whereby the spikes are perwnmnnzmxwnnn,

UNITED, STAT-ES PATENTS Number Name Date Lora-5&5 Graig rem 23,1912 1,236,113? Rose "Aug: W19??? l,"881,l;35 Sohmi1 t oet ,-*'-IS9E2 2,041,460 Donderer Ma9f-1938 Number I country Datei; 

